The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, is Scottish Charity No.

SC000470

Press release: for immediate release

26 October 2010

Scotland must be ambitious and innovative in its drive for faster broadband for all. Scotland must aim for country-wide access to broadband speeds beyond 16Mb/s by 2015, and should establish a Digital Scotland Trust to deliver and operate a backbone fibre infrastructure that will bring high speed broadband within reach of all our communities, according to an influential new report, published today by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Professor Michael Fourman, chair of the Digital Scotland report, said For Scotland to survive and succeed in the digital age, we need all our communities to have equal access to broadband, at speeds that are competitive internationally. Action is urgent: while the UK Government is aiming to deliver speeds of only 2Mb/s by 2015, countries such as Finland and Sweden have committed to speeds of 100Mb/s. The UK Governments current digital policy will not deliver the digital infrastructure Scotland needs Professor Fourman continues, but the Scottish Government and local authorities hold many of the levers that can drive forward Scotlands digital agenda, including planning regulations, procurement and business rates. Scotland must take the lead by setting its own ambitious targets and adopting an innovative and effective strategy to meet those targets. Digital Scotland considers the challenges in depth and offers a strategic plan of action. Digital Scotland is the result of a year long process that has involved extensive consultation with key industry players, consumers, providers, community groups, government and the public. It sets out a comprehensive plan for the creation of a core fibre infrastructure, akin to the trunk roads of our transport network, that makes high speed broadband accessible to all communities. It quantifies the capital investment needed to create this infrastructure as around 100 million and looks at innovative funding options that need not call on the public purse. Professor Geoffrey Boulton, General Secretary of the RSE, commented: The digital revolution has not yet run its course, the future is unpredictable and technological advances will hold both dangers and opportunities for Scotland. But what is certain is that Scotland cannot afford a widening digital divide if its economy is to be internationally competitive, if its public services are to be delivered efficiently, and if its communities are to enjoy equal access to opportunities in areas such as health and education. Scotland must be at the forefront of this revolution, as it was in the industrial revolution in the 19th century. David Cairns, Chair of ScotlandIS, the trade body for Scotlands ICT industry, commented, A world class communications infrastructure is essential if we are to
The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470

give Scottish entrepreneurs the ability to address global markets. It is also essential to be internationally competitive in the 21st century. The opportunity is exciting, but if we fail to seize the day we will also face the threat of a weakening competitive position because others are not standing still. ScotlandIS welcomes this report which sets out a practical, affordable plan to deliver a future proofed digital infrastructure for all Scotlands communities, businesses and public services. The report proposes a distinctively Scottish community effort that would bring benefit to the whole of Scotland. Influential Scottish businessman Sir Angus Grossart commented: This report should be implemented. It will be a potent lever to liberate and develop the abilities and potential of Scotland, at a low cost. The enhancement of our communications infrastructure will have a transformational effect, across the widest areas of activity and geography. This transformational effect will be seen not only in economic efficiency and the opening of access to global markets for Scotlands businesses, but also in how public services are delivered and in greater opportunities and flexibility at work and in leisure. Rural areas previously excluded from the modern economy can now engage; parents can work flexibly from home; and older people will have opportunities to stay active and engaged with society in ways that were previously impossible. Digital Scotland calls for social hubs in every community, where internet access is available to all, in libraries and other community centres, and where support is available to groups who would otherwise be excluded from digital society. Jeremy Peat, BBC Trustee for Scotland, lent his support to the report, saying I very much welcome this thoughtful report and wholly agree with the importance of spreading access to high speed broadband across Scotland and encouraging its take up. I would note, regarding take up, that the reasons for low broadband take up in West Central Scotland also merit attention. http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/enquiries/Digital_Scotland/ http://digital-scotland.blogspot.com http://twitter.com/digiscot ENDS A copy of the full report can be found at www.royalsoced.org.uk. This information and further details/interview arrangements from: Susan Bishop, RSE sbishop@royalsoced.org.uk 0131 240 2789 07738570315 Or Carol Anderson carola@thebusinesspr.co.uk 0131 718 6022 07836 546 256

The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470

Notes for editors

Case study: Tiree Broadband Tiree Broadband is a not for profit company established to provide broadband access to the people of Tiree. The company owns and operates a commercial quality wireless network linked to a multi-feed ADSL backhaul. The wireless network allows Tiree Broadband to reach areas of the island outwith the reach of conventional broadband. > Tiree Broadband provides broadband private individuals, companies and community groups at prices comparable with mainstream ADSL providers. It is able to do this by keeping its operating costs to a minimum and by utilising skilled volunteers and professionals from Tiree. > Any surplus revenue generated from subscriptions is re-invested in maintaining, extending and upgrading the network. > Tiree broadband has been operating successfully for 4 years and now has over 100 subscribers making it one of the largest and most successful community broadband networks in Scotland. Tiree Broadband also owns and supports a public internet access wireless hot-spot run by Tiree Rural Centre, as well as providing broadband feeds for community Internet access at An Iodhlann and providing data connections for Discover Tiree' s network of touch-screen information points. Tiree uses a secure wireless network to distribute a broadband connection to its subscribers. Speeds available to users are constrained by the limited backhaul available. Currently all users share the bandwidth provided by four ADSL connections. The creation of a backbone infrastructure would bring fibre within reach of this wireless network and increase the speeds available to users. Professor Michael Fourman FRSE FBCS Professor Fourman is Chair of Computer Systems at the University of Edinburgh, and was head of the School of Informatics from 2001 2009. He received a BSc in Mathematics with other subjects (Philosophy and Computer Science) from the University of Bristol in 1971, then his MSc in Mathematical Logic in 1972 and his DPhil in 1974, both from the University of Oxford. Professor Fourman spent his early career in the United States as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Clark University, Massachusetts and Columbia University, New York, before returning to the UK and Brunel University in 1983. In 1988 he joined the Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh, and was appointed to the Chair of Computer Systems in the Department of Computer Science. In 1998 he was founding Head of the Division of Informatics, which became the current School of Informatics, incorporating the former Department of Artificial Intelligence, the Artificial Intelligence Applications Institute, the Centre for Cognitive Science, the Human Communication Research Centre, and the Department of Computer Science.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470

RSE Digital Scotland Working Group Professor Michael Fourman FRSE FBCS (chair) Professor Geoffrey Boulton OBE FRS FRSE Professor Peter Buneman FRS FRSE Professor Peter Clarke FIET Professor Steve McLaughlin FREng FRSE Professor A. David Milne OBE FREng FRSE Ian Ritchie CBE FREng FRSE FBCS Professor Mark Schaffer FRSE Ms Polly Purvis Professor Claire Wallace Ms Susan Bishop (secretary) RSE Business Innovation Forum The RSEs Business Innovation Forum identified the crucial role of national infrastructure, including powerful digital networks, in supporting the national economy, leading the Society to set up the Digital Scotland group. The Business Innovation Forum has endorsed the report and its membership is detailed below. Professor Steven Beaumont OBE FRSE Professor John Brown FRSE Professor Tariq Durrani OBE FREng FRSE Sir Tom Farmer CVO CBE KCSG DL FRSE Mr John McClelland CBE FRSE (chair) (withdrew from the endorsement process because of a conflict of interest). Professor Donald MacRae FRSE Dr Chris Masters CBE FRSE Dr A. David Milne OBE FREng FRSE Ian Ritchie FREng FRSE FBCS Dr Marc Rands (secretary)

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